Blueberry plant named &#39;CARGO&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Cargo’ is provided. ‘Cargo’ is a commercial variety intended to be machine harvested for both the fresh and processed markets. The variety has a very uniform crop of medium sized fruit with good flavor and excellent firmness, and has consistently high yields. ‘Cargo’ is a vigorous plant, with a narrow crown and upright growing habit, and has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 to 1,000 hours.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

LATIN NAME OF THE FAMILY, GENUS, AND SPECIES

Family—Ericaceae.

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Cargo.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of northern highbush blueberry known as a Vaccinium corymbosumhybrid referred to as ‘Cargo,’ as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Cargo’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in2005. ‘Cargo’ is a commercial variety intended to be machine harvestedfor both the fresh and processed markets. The variety has a very uniformcrop of medium sized fruit with good flavor and excellent firmness, andhas consistently high yields. ‘Cargo’ is a vigorous plant, with a narrowcrown and upright growing habit, and has an estimated chillingrequirement of 800 to 1,000 hours.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of‘Bluegold’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘Ozarkblue’ (pollen parent,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,035). The new blueberry plant variety ‘Cargo’ hasbeen planted in replicated trials since 2006.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Liberty’ in that‘Cargo’ ripens about one week earlier, and does not have problems withcane dieback or wrinkling fruit.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Draper’ in that‘Cargo’ has a higher yield with smaller fruit, a more upright, vigorousgrowing habit, and ripens 2 to 3 weeks later.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Cargo’ has maintained itsdistinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexualpropagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproducedthrough softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones arephenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Cargo’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., andare determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberryplant variety ‘Cargo’:

1. Uniform crop of light blue, medium sized fruit.

2. Consistent, high yields.

3. Vigorous plant with narrow crown and upright growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Cargo.’ Thecolors are a nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Cargo.’

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Cargo.’

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Cargo.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Cargo.’ The data which defines these characteristicswas collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection.Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximationsand averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history wastaken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptionsrelate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designationsare from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and LawrenceHerbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where thePantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs,the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae. b. Genus — Vaccinium. c.    Species — corymbosum hybrid. d. Common Name — Northern Highbush    Blueberry.-   Parentage: Female Parent — Bluegold (unpatented). Male Parent —    Ozarkblue (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,035).-   Market class: ‘Cargo’ is a commercial variety intended to be machine    harvested for both the fresh and processed markets.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant size.—a. Height of Plant: Average of 54 inches. b.            Canopy Diameter: Average of 36 inches.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Twigginess.—Low.        -   Suckering.—Low.        -   Evergreenness.—Deciduous.        -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 800-1000 hours.        -   Cold hardiness.—Approximately USDA zones 4-7.        -   Productivity in Lowell.—a. 3 year old, heavily pruned plants            produced an average of 6.38 lbs per plant, compared to            Liberty plants (pruned normally) of the same age, which            produced and average of 7.46 lbs per plant. b. 4 year old,            heavily pruned plants produced an average of 7.97 lbs per            plant, compared to Liberty plants (pruned normally) of the            same age, which produced an average of 8.9 lbs per plant. c.            5 year old, normally pruned plants produced an average of            16.09 lbs per plant.        -   Propagation.—Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.        -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—a. Root rot (Phytophthora            cinnamomi): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. b.            Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria spp): Undetermined. c. Phomopsis            Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii): Does not appear to be            overly susceptible. d. Botryosphaeria Stem canker            (Botryosphaeria corticis): Undetermined. e. Bacterial Cane            Canker (Pseudomonas syringae): Does not appear to be overly            susceptible. f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea): Does not            appear to be overly susceptible. g. Leaf Spot (Septoria            spp.): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. h. Leaf            rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii): Does not appear to be overly            susceptible. i. Bud Mites (Acalatus vaccinii): Undetermined.        -   Survival.—Good.-   Trunk and branches:    -   -   Texture.—a. Surface Texture New Wood: Smooth. b. Surface            Texture 1 yr Wood: Smooth. c. Surface Texture 3 yr Wood:            Rough.        -   Color.—a. Color of New Wood: Pantone color Apple Green            15-1543 b. Color of Rough Bark 1 year: Pantone color Green            Banana 14-0434 and Willow 16-0632. c. Color of Rough Bark 3            year: Pantone colors Cocoa Brown 18-1222, Smoke Gray            14-1209, and Moonlight 15-1309.-   Foliage:    -   -   Internode length.—Average of 22.87 mm.        -   Leaf dimensions.—a. Leaf Length: Average of 62.34 mm. b.            Leaf Width: Average of 38.96 mm.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical with acute apex and base.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf color.—a. Upper Leaf Surface Mature leaves: Pantone            Chive 19-0323. b. Upper Leaf Surface New leaves: Pantone            Peridot 17-0336, Baked Apple 18-1648 and Crushed Berry            18-1418. c. Lower Leaf Surface: Pantone color Water Cress            17-0220.        -   Pubescence.—a. Pubescence Upper Leaf Surface: Absent. b.            Pubescence Lower Leaf Surface: Absent. c. Pubescence Leaf            Margins: Absent.        -   Petiole.—a. Average petiole length: Average of 3.12 mm. b.            Petiole color: Pantone color Lettuce Green 13-0324. c.            Petiole surface texture: Smooth.        -   Leafing vs flowering.—Flower bud break occurs prior to            vegetative bud break in Lowell, Oreg. Flowers persist during            initial vegetative growth period.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Alternate arrangement.        -   Immature flower color.—Pantone color Claret Red 17-1740 and            Snow White 11-0602.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet, faint.        -   Flower shape.—Urceolate to cylindrical.        -   Pollen.—a. Pollen Staining: Approximately 95% viable,            Staining with 2% acetocarmine dye. b. Pollen Abundance:            High. c. Pollen Color: Pantone color Pale Banana 12-0824.        -   Flower length.—Average 10.31 mm.        -   Corolla.—a. Corolla Length: Average of 7.26 mm. b. Corolla            Diameter: Average of 7.24 mm. c. Corolla Aperture: Average            of 3.87 mm. d. Corolla Color: Pantone color Antique White            11-0105. e. Corolla Texture: Smooth.        -   Style length.—Average of 6.94 mm.        -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Diameter: Average of 4.35 mm. b. Calyx            Surface: Smooth. c. Calyx Color: Pantone color Spinach Green            16-0439.        -   Pistil color.—Pantone color Apple Green 15-0543.        -   Pedicel.—a. Pedicel Color: Pantone color Green Olive            17-0535. b. Pedicel Length Flower: Average of 8.32 mm.        -   Peduncle.—a. Peduncle Color: Pantone color Green Olive            17-0535 b. Peduncle Length Flower: Average of 15.26 mm.        -   Anther.—a. Anther length: Average of 6.08 mm. b. Anther            color: Pantone color Burnt Orange 16-1448.        -   Stigma location.—Stigma even with lip of corolla, and up to            0.15 mm above lip of corolla, on average.        -   Flowering cluster.—Loose flowering cluster, high density.        -   Flowering period.—Begins flowering in mid-April, reaching            50% bloom during the last week of April or the first week of            May and continues flowering through mid-May.        -   Number flowers.—Average of 10-12 flowers per cluster.        -   Self-compatibility.—Very good — on average 90% of            self-pollinated flowers reach maturity.-   Berries:    -   -   Mean harvest date.—August 7.        -   Mean date last pick.—September 5.        -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Aperture: Average of 4.46 mm. b. Calyx            Lobes: 5 lobes, slightly pronounced. c. Calyx Depth: Average            of 2.24 mm.        -   Berry cluster.—Loose.        -   Berries per cluster.—Average of 8-10.        -   Berry pedicel.—a. Length: Average of 10.26 mm. b. Surface            Texture: Smooth.        -   Berry peduncle.—a. Length: Average of 26.13 mm. b. Peduncle            surface texture: Smooth.        -   Berry detachment.—Easy.        -   Berry weight.—Average berry weight over 2 years was 2 g,            compared to Liberty, which had an average berry weight over            2 years of 1.79 g.        -   Berry height.—Average of 13.69 mm.        -   Berry width.—Average of 17.56 mm.        -   Berry shape.—Round.        -   Berry color.—a. Immature berry color: Pantone color Leaf            Green 15-0332. b. Berry Skin Color on Plant: Pantone color            Dapple Grey 16-3907. c. Berry Skin Color after Harvest:            Pantone color Velvet Morning 18-3927. d. Berry Skin Color            after Polishing: Pantone color Dark Navy 19-4013.        -   Berry wax.—Moderately heavy and persistent.        -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone color Asparagus Green 12-0311.        -   Pedicel scar.—Small and dry, average of 2.9 mm in diameter.        -   Berry firmness.—Firm. Average berry firmness as measured on            a Firmtech fruit firmness testing machine was 185.65 g/mm of            deflection, compared to Liberty plants harvested on the same            day which had an average of 160.93 g/mm of deflection.        -   Berry flavor.—Sweet and tart, good balance.        -   Berry texture.—Firm.-   Seeds:    -   -   Seed color.—Pantone color Madden Brown 19-1331.        -   Seed length.—Average of 1.89 mm.        -   Seed width.—Average of 1.27 mm.        -   Seed weight.—Average of 0.5 mg.        -   Quantity seeds per berry.—Average of 48 seeds per berry.

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Cargo,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.